Wire-amd-picket-fence machine



2 Sheets-@Sheet l.

(No Model.)

VL. W. vMximnvefo. WIRE AND PICKET FENCE MAGHINB.

No. 574,103.A

Patented D`e o. 29, `1896.

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(NoModel.) 2 sheets-sheen `2.

L. W. MOZINGO'. WIRE AND PIGKET FENCE Mmmm.:

No. 574,103. l .Patented Deo.. 29, 1896.

Limo wAsnmsTon n r UNITED STATES LEWIS W. MOZINGO, OF VVESTPORT, MISSOURI.

WIRE-AND-PICKET-FENCE MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 574,103, dated December 29, 1,896. Application filed March Z4, 1896. Serial No. 584,694. (No model.)

To all whom. zit may concern:

Beit known that I, Lewis W. MoZiNGo, a citizen of the United States, residing at lifestport, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Fence-Machine,.of which the following is a` specification.

-This invention aims to provide a machine for wire-and-picket fencing which will be light, portable, easily operated, and adjustable so that the pickets can be set at any required height and the twister-wheels shifted to accommodate them to the relative position of the line or fence Wires, and which will be effective and enable the work to be performed in a rapid and thorough manner, the wires being evenly twisted and securely bound around the pickets.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the invention reference is to be `had to the accompanying drawings and the following description.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion,and the minor details of construction without departingfrom the principle or sacricing any of the advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved machine, showing it in service. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the manner of mounting the lever for operating the master sprocket-wheel and its lateral movement by dotted lines. `Fig. 4 is a group of the mountings and parts intimately associated with a twister-wheel. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the picket-support and the bracket to which it is attached. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the block which supports the sliding plate in its movements. VFig. 7 shows, respectively, a side elevation and a plan section of a tension device. Fig. S is a detail section showing the manner of attaching a bearing-bracket to the frame or standard.

The frame for supporting the wire-twisting mechanism is a standard or bar l of steel or iron angular in cross-section and of a length corresponding to the height of the highest fence generally constructed of wire and pickets. A series of bearing-brackets 2 are secured to the bar 1 by bolts or machine-screws,

so as to be readily detached therefrom to be shifted so as to adapt their position to the relative location of the fence or line Wires. Each bearing-bracket 2 has a ring 3 at its outer end and a lateral extension 4 near its inner end, through which passes a bolt 5, bymeans of which attachment is had between the bracket and a wing or flange of the bar. A fastening or bolt 6 connects the rear end of the bracket with the other wing of the bar. By this means a firm and positive connection is secured and the bracket can withstand considerable strain. A series of openings 7 are formed in the wings or ilanges of the bar to receive thefastenings or bolts 5 and 6, where by provision is had for the relative adjust ment of the bearing-brackets. A short handle 8 is located at the upper end of the bar or frame and is grasped when it is required to move the machine along the fence-wires to the required position for twisting the wires about the pickets. A handle 9 projects laterally from the bar or frame and is grasped and held firm when the machine is in operation, so as to steady it and prevent undue strain upon the fence-wires.

The twister-wheels 10 are mounted in the rings 3 of the bearing-brackets and have spur-teeth around theirperipheral edges, and

are formed at diametrically opposite points with notches 11, which receive the line or fence wires when the machine is in position for twisting the said wires about the pickets. Each twister-wheel has a hub portion 12 to fit within thering 3, and a plate 13 is secured to the end of the hub and acts in opposition to the twister-wheel proper to hold the latter in its bearing, a fastening or bolt 14, having a nut 15, being employed for the purpose. The plate has slots 1G, corresponding in position with the slots l1, so as to receive the fence-wires. A slot 17 is formed in the outer end of the ring 3 to admit of the ingress and the egress of the fence-wires to and from the slots 11 and 1G. A master sprocket-wheel 18 is journaled upon apin or bolt 19, carried by a plate 20, having adjust able connection with the frame or bar l, and is provided with a series of lateral projections 22, disposed at intervals about its rim. A sprocket-chain 23 passes over the upper and llower twister-wheels and alternately in the IOO front andthe rear of the intermediate .twisterwheels Vand around the master sprocketwheel, and serves to transmit motion from the master sprocket-wheel to the individual twister-wheels. By having the plate 2O adjust-ably connected with the frame or bar 1 the master sprocket-wheel can be moved in or out, so as to regulate the tension upon the sprocket-chain. The plate 20 has parallel slots 21, which receive bolts 24, by means of which it is adjustably secured to the bar or frame, and a block 25, secured to the frame immediately below the plate 20 and engaging with the latter, serves to brace and prevent any vertical movement thereof when operating the master sprocket-wheel 18. A lug 26 extends from the block 25 to brace and strengthen the attachment between it and the bar or frame. A lever 27 is mounted at its inner end upon the journal 19, which supports the master sprocketwheel, and is adapted to be moved laterally away from the plane of the master sprocket-wheel, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, so as to clear the lateral projections 22, thereby admitting of the lever 27 being vibrated vertically and yet rotate the master sprocket-wheel in one or the other direction as required to secure the requisite number of twists of the wires between the pickets.

The picket-support 2S is a bracket having a horizontal portion 29, depressed in its top side to form a seat to receive the lower end of a picket, and a vertical portion 30, having a slot 31 to receive the bolt or fastening 33, by means of which the picket-support is vertically adjustably connected to an arm or a part of the frame of the machine. By having the horizontal portion 29 depressed in its top side the lower end of the picket secures a footing and is prevented from slipping laterally from off the support after it is rested thereon.

A series of arms 34 are secured to the bar by the fastenings 5, employed to attach the bearingbrackets thereto, and their outer ends are slotted at 35 to provide for the entrance and escape of the fence-wires. These arms act as stops to sustain the pickets during the twisting operation. The inner ends of the arms butt against a wing of the anglebar and are prevented from turning on their fastenings.

The combined wire-stretcher and tension device comprises a plate 3G, having a series of headed studs 37 on one side, parallel arms 38 at one end of the plate, a shaft 39 journaled in the outer ends of the arms 38, and having` its projecting end made angular to receive a handle or tool for turning the shaft in its bearings, a ratchet-wheel 40, and a pawl 41 to engage with the teeth of the ratchetwheel to hold the shaft from turning backward when subjected to tension. One of these devices will be provided for each pair of line or fence wires 42, and the said Wires 42 will be engaged with the headed studs 37 by being passed alternately from side vto side from one to the other in a tortuous path, the wires of each pair being passed in opposite directions, so as to equalize the strain upon the studs.

The fence is constructed in the usual way, the line or fence Wires 42 being provided in pairs and secured to the fence-posts 43, along the prescribed line of fencing, and having connection with the combined stretcher and tension devices in the manner set forth, said devices in turn being secured to the adjacent fencepost by Wires 44, the latter being attached at one end to the fence-post and at their opposite end to the shaft 39 of the respective devices. By turning the shafts 39 the fence-wires can be tightened, so that the twisting can be effected under the requisite tension. The machine is now iittedto the fence-wires in the usual way, and the pickets 45 are placed in position, one at a time,

and secured between the pairs of wires by twisting the latter upon operating the lever 27, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a fence-machine, the combination of a frame, a series of bearing-brackets secured at intervals in the length of the frame Vand having a lateral extension near their inner ends, twister-wheels mounted in the bearingbrackets, a series of arms located in the same plane with the bearing-brackets and forming stops to properly space the pickets and having their outer ends slotted, and fastenings securing the inner ends of the said arms to the frame and the lateral extensions of the beari 11g-brackets, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a fence-machine, the combination of a frame having a series of twister-wheels, a master-wheel, a sprocket-chain engaging with the master-wheel and the individual twisterwheels to transmit `motion to the latter, a plate supporting the master-wheel and having adjustable connection with the frame, and a block secured to the frame and obtaining a bearing against the adjustable plate to brace and strengthen the latter, substantially as `shown for the purpose described.

3. The combination with a fen ce-machine, of a picket-support comprising a vertical portion having a slot extending therein from its upper end to receive the fastening and admit of the support being readily detached, and a horizontal portion formed in its top side with a seat, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS W. MOZINGO. Vitnesses:

R. M. LEDERER, C. W. BOOTH. 

